KALAMAZOO, MI -- An established company with local roots and a national company relocating part of its operations to Kalamazoo both received tax breaks from the Kalamazoo City Commission Monday.

City commissioners unanimously OK'd a tax break for four years, with a four-year extension, for personal property of $6.9 millino for Fabri-Kal Corp., at 4141 Manchester Road. In the first year, $33,241 of property tax revenues will be abated.

Fabri-Kal Chief Financial Officer Gary Galia, of Vicksburg, said the company makes products using plant-based materials for customers such as Gordon Food Service, Chobani and General Mills.

Galia said Fabri-Kal committed to the city to invest about $35 million, but with the tax break the company will have invested more than $40 million to purchase, renovate and expand the site in less than six years.

"It will allow us to continue to increase employment in Kalamazoo and the tax base for the community," Galia said.

This is the company's fifth tax abatement application from a series of incentives offered to the company in 2008. Fabri-Kal's world headquarters, technical center, main training center and production facility are in Kalamazoo.

Fabri-Kal officials plan to purchase and install an in-line extrusion/thermoforming system, including tooling and auxiliary equipment, that will allow Fabri-Kal to continue to expand and manufacture in Kalamazoo. Fabri-Kal officials say with the incentive they will add 10 full-time positions within the first two years and retain 140 full-time positions.

Newell Rubbermaid Inc., an Atlanta, Ga.-based company that is relocating a design center to Western Michigan University's Business, Research and Technology Park, was granted a tax break for 12 years for real property of $4,861,928. About $23,423 would be abated in the first year.

It is part of an incentive package negotiated by state of Michigan officials, along with Southwest Michigan First and the city of Kalamazoo for Newell Rubbermaid to move here. Newell Rubbermaid will not receive an abatement on personal property estimated at $3.5 million.

Arthur Garcia, director of real estate for Newell Rubbermaid, said it is a $5 billion, publicly traded company with about 15,000 employees. Construction on the company's building in Kalamazoo is expected to be done and 73 employees are expected to be working there by March 2014. He said the company is trying to fill 38 positions now.

Extended two tax breaks to Parker Hannifin Corp., 2220 Palmer Ave., for an additional three years for personal property valued at $6.4 million. The renewals will save the company $99,643 throughout the three years. Parker Hannifin has added an 71 jobs more than it originally committed to when it first received a tax break, according to a city memo.

Set a public hearing for Oct. 21 to consider a tax break application from Dimplex Thermal Solutions Inc. for three years for persona. property valued at $1.1 million and for six years for real property valued at $2.5 million. In its first year the city would abate $17,388 in city property taxes.

approved a $416,000 contract with Pitsch Co. of Grand Rapids to demolish a wastewater building that is not being used and to construct a new plant water building and a sludge control building on the site.